Holly MatkinWashington, DC – A homeless man jumped in to save a DC Metro police officer who was being stabbed by a violent suspect early Thursday morning, according to police.
The incident began at approximately 6 a.m., when police were dispatched the area of New York Avenue Northwest and 13th Street for a report of a male assaulting a female, WRC reported.
When officers arrived at the scene, a male suspect armed with a pair of scissors attacked them, stabbing one veteran officer in the neck and head, police said.
John Burrows told WRC that he became angry when he saw the suspect stabbing the officer, so he immediately jumped into the fray to help save him.
“I was really mad at the guy, for just stabbing him for no reason. That made me mad,” the homeless Good Samaritan told WRC. “They’re my cops. This is my city and I don’t want you stabbing them.”
“I grabbed the guy’s arm and me and the cop together got him under control so he couldn’t stab him no more,” Burrows explained. “[The suspect] got arrested, the cop went to the hospital and I guess I’m like a little hero.”
The unnamed officer is expected to recover from his stab wounds, according to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
A possible motive for the attack has not been determined, MPD Chief Peter Newsham told WRC.
The MPD praised Burrows for his “heroic actions,” which they noted helped prevent the officer from suffering further injuries, WRC reported.
“We commend this man for his selfless intervention,” the MPD said.
The DC Department of Human Services (DHS) has established a fundraiser to help Burrows.
The effort was initiated “per the request of the community,” the DHS said.
